Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Ford Bronco II, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 8 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 20% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 17% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 15% |
| Power train | 4 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
BOUGHT THE BRONCO AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT, IT STARTED SPUTTING LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN IT WAS FULL(I JUST PUT A FULL TANK IN IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP AT A FRIENDS. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
MY FORD BRONCO II, 1987, WENT UP IN FLAMES. IT WAS LEAKING GAS, THE SMELL WAS REALLY STRONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A BURST OF FLAMES. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT . *JB
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL, IGNITION SWITCH, BATTERY, EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALSO A TUNE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT WAS DETERMINED A WIRE WAS NOT GRO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 55 MPH A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN PULLED OVER AND HOOD LIFTED I NOTICED A FIRE ON DRIVER SIDE OF ENGINES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
BRONCO WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 1/4 MILE FORM HOME AND THE MOTOR DIED, AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BUSTED INTO FLAMES.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IN PARK WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT, NARROWLY MISSING A PERSON, AND HITTING A BRICK WALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
IGNITION MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. HAD MODULE REPLACED 3 TIMES. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE ENGINE GETS HOT THE ENGINE STALLS AT APROX. 30 TO 40 MPH. AFTER THE ENGINE COOLS THE CAR WILL RESTART AND RUN UNTIL IT GETS HOT AGAIN AND STALLS. THE DEALER SAID THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM IN ANY
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1987 Ford Bronco II. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
STICKERS CONCERNING HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WHICH ARE AFFIXED TO DRIVERS SUN VISOR SLEEVES DO NOT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT ADHESION.
Risk: VEHICLES DO NOT MEET FORMATS SPECIFIED BY PARTS 573 AND579 OF 49CFR.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED NEW SUN VISOR SLEEVES WITH ALL APPLICABLE DECAL INFORMATION PERMANENTLY AFFIXED.
ALUMINUM WHEELS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH IMPROPER LUG NUTS.
Risk: WHEEL COULD BECOME LOOSE OR EVEN SEPARATE FROM THE HUBAND AXLE ASSEMBLY WHILE THE VEHICE IS IN MOTION.
Fix: CHANGE TAPERED STYLE LUG NUTS TO SHORT SHANK STYLE LUG NUTS.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Fix: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 86 | excellent |
| Performance | 58 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 8 of them (20%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 77/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.